MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday urged the public to avoid hoarding medical oxygen tanks to prevent “artificial shortage” amid the threat of a possible surge of Covid-19 cases due to the Delta variant.

“Ang aking pakisusap hayaang lang na umikot ang mga tanke ng oxygen. Kasi ‘pag tinago mo mawawala sa circulation ang oxygen tank na yun so mababawasan yan at pwedeng magkaroon ng artificial shortage. Yan po ang ating tinutugunan (My appeal is to allow the oxygen tanks to circulate in the market because if you’ll hoard these oxygen tanks, the supply will decrease and there will be an artificial shortage. That’s what we are addressing),” Duque said during the ceremonial turnover of five modular hospital units at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City.

Duque said individuals should not buy oxygen tanks for home use.

“Hindi po pwede magtago o maghoard ang mga indibidwal ng mga oxygen tanks dahil una it is prescribed by doctors, it is a medicine hindi pwedeng bumili kung saan-saan lang (It is not advisable for individuals to store and hoard oxygen tanks because, first, it is prescribed by doctors, it is a medicine–you cannot buy it anywhere),” he said.

He said the health department has already issued guidelines in terms of proper handling of oxygen.

“Please lang po ‘wag tayong mag-hoard kung hindi po kinakailangan at makinig po tayo sa ating mga doktor hindi naman po pwedeng sila ay basta-basta na lang mag-prescribe lang kung walang malinaw na indikasyon (Please avoid hoarding if it’s not necessary and listen to our doctors because they can’t just prescribe without clear indications),” he said.

Meanwhile, Duque said the government is having a regular meeting with oxygen manufacturing companies and with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as preparation against the possible surge of Covid-19 cases due to a more contagious Delta variant.

Duque said the oxygen manufacturers have committed to readying their resources and supply of oxygen tanks.

“In terms of unit measurements kung 203 tonnages per daily ang nauubos sa normal na sitwasyon. Kung magsi-surge ay makakaya nila times three–up to 605 tonnages per day (In terms of unit measurements, if 203 tonnages per day are needed during normal situations, they can make up to 605 tonnages daily which are three times higher than the needed oxygen during normal situation),” he said.

Duque noted that the oxygen manufacturing companies have started importing oxygen tanks or cylinders.

The health department is projecting the future surge of Covid-19 two times higher than the recorded spike of infections last March and April.

Duque reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing to give the manufacturers a tax relief for their production of medical-grade oxygen. (PNA)

Photo Credit: Philippine News Agency Official Website